System for handling program meta-data

Abstract

A method of accessing program meta-data is disclosed. The method includes receiving a plurality of program meta-data virtual containers, at least one of the virtual containers comprising normalized program meta-data of programs having instances in a plurality of time windows, receiving an input indicating a selected time window, the input at least one of comprises and refers to a time-window identifier identifying the selected time window, and using the time-window identifier to filter the plurality of virtual containers, so as to obtain a subset of the program meta-data which corresponds to the selected time window. Related apparatus and methods are also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of grouping program meta-data which relates to a plurality of programs, the method comprising:
 scanning the program meta-data to determine program instances which have substantially equal meta-data; 
 grouping the program meta-data into groups so that each group refers to a set of program instances that have substantially equal meta-data, each set of program instances comprising at least one program instance; and so that meta-data associated with any one group is different from meta-data associated with every other group; 
 assigning each group a unique program identifier, thereby producing a set of program identifiers; 
 grouping the program meta-data by time windows to produce a set of time-window identifiers in which each time-window identifier is associated with at least one of the time windows; 
 placing the program meta-data in virtual containers; and 
 associating each virtual container with at least one program identifier from the set of program identifiers, and associating each virtual container with one time-window identifier from the set of time-window identifiers; 
 transmitting the virtual containers, the set of program identifiers, and the set of time-window identifiers; 
 wherein the transmitting comprises conveying the virtual containers, the set of program identifiers, and the set of time-window identifiers in at least one PID (Packet Identification) stream. 
 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1  and wherein:
 the programs comprise all programs offered for viewing in an Electronic Program Guide (EPG); and 
 the groups comprise a set of normalized programs. 
 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 1  and wherein the unique program identifier comprises a virtual container identifier (container_id). 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 1  and wherein each time-window identifier in the set of time-window identifiers comprises a time-window identifying bit. 
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 4  and wherein each time-window identifier in the set of time-window identifiers comprises exactly one time-window identifying bit. 
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 1  and wherein the transmitting comprises conveying the virtual containers, the set of program identifiers, and the set of time-window identifiers as MPEG-2 private sections. 
     
     
       7. The method according to  claim 1  and wherein each of the virtual containers is assigned a container identifier, and the conveying comprises:
 conveying all virtual containers with container identifiers that have only a specific bit of a time window identifier set in a PID stream which is distinct from other PID streams. 
 
     
     
       8. The method according to  claim 1  and wherein the conveying comprises conveying all virtual containers that cover multiple periods of time in a PID stream which is distinct from other PID streams. 
     
     
       9. The method according to  claim 1  and wherein the conveying comprises conveying in each PID stream a group of virtual containers that covers no more than a single unit of time. 
     
     
       10. The method according to  claim 1  and wherein the transmitting comprises reducing bandwidth per PID stream by distributing the virtual containers among a plurality of PID streams. 
     
     
       11. The method according to  claim 10  and also comprising enabling bit assignment filtering of the plurality of PID streams by conveying one of the following in a separate one of the plurality of PID streams:
 all virtual containers comprising container identifiers that have one of the following: only a single bit set; and a specific bit set; and 
 a group of virtual containers that covers a single unit of time. 
 
     
     
       12. The method according to  claim 1  and also comprising selecting the time windows according to a linear time base. 
     
     
       13. The method according to  claim 12  and wherein the linear time base comprises a time unit equivalent to at least one of the following: a part of a day; and a day. 
     
     
       14. The method according to  claim 1  and also comprising selecting the time windows according to a non-linear time base. 
     
     
       15. The method according to  claim 1  and wherein at least one of the time windows comprises at least one of the following: a part of a day; a day; more than one day; a week; and a specific weekday within a period of at least one month. 
     
     
       16. The method according to  claim 1  and also comprising:
 enabling access to the virtual containers, the set of program identifiers, and the set of time-window identifiers to allow a user to filter the program meta-data for obtaining a subset of the program meta-data. 
 
     
     
       17. The method according to  claim 16  and wherein the subset of the program meta-data comprises a program meta-data subset which corresponds to at least one of the following: a time window; a service; a program; and at least one editorial attribute in the program meta-data. 
     
     
       18. Apparatus for grouping program meta-data which relates to a plurality of programs, the apparatus comprising:
 a meta-data processor which is operative to perform the following:
 scan the program meta-data to determine program instances which have substantially equal meta-data; 
 group the program meta-data into groups so that each group refers to a set of program instances that have substantially equal meta-data, each set of program instances comprising at least one program instance, and so that meta-data associated with any one group is different from meta-data associated with every other group; and 
 assign each group a unique program identifier, thereby producing a set of program identifiers; and 
 group the program meta-data by time windows to produce a set of time-window identifiers in which each time-window identifier is associated with at least one of the time windows; 
 
 an encapsulation unit which is operative to:
 place the program meta-data in virtual containers; 
 associate each virtual container with at least one program identifier from the set of program identifiers; and 
 associate each virtual container with one time-window identifier from the set of time-window identifiers; and 
 
 a transmitter for transmitting the virtual containers, the set of program identifiers, and the set of time-window identifiers, wherein the transmitting comprises conveying the virtual containers, the set of program identifiers, and the set of time-window identifiers in at least one PID (Packet Identification) stream. 
 
     
     
       19. Apparatus for grouping program meta-data which relates to a plurality of programs, the apparatus comprising:
 means for scanning the program meta-data to determine program instances which have substantially equal meta-data, for grouping the program meta-data into groups so that each group refers to a set of program instances that have substantially equal meta-data, each set of program instances comprising at least one program instance, and so that meta-data associated with any one group is different from meta-data associated with every other group, and for assigning each group a unique program identifier, thereby producing a set of program identifiers; 
 means for grouping the program meta-data by time windows to produce a set of time-window identifiers in which each time-window identifier is associated with at least one of the time windows; 
 means for placing the program meta-data in virtual containers, for associating each virtual container with at least one program identifier from the set of program identifiers, and for associating each virtual container with one time-window identifier from the set of time-window identifiers; and 
 means for transmitting the virtual containers, the set of program identifiers, and the set of time-window identifiers, wherein the transmitting comprises conveying the virtual containers, the set of program identifiers, and the set of time-window identifiers in at least one PID (Packet Identification) stream.